Mosque 'punished by the extremists'

Mosque 'punished by the extremists'
Telegraph
23/07/2005

A week to the day after Shahara Islam became the first victim of the London bomb attacks to be buried, the mosque where her funeral was held was cleared by a bomb scare apparently caused by extremist Muslims. Some 300 people, including 100 children, were evacuated from the East London Mosque in Whitechapel and police surrounded the building as sniffer dogs were sent in to investigate a suspect package. Officers later said the mosque and adjoining Muslim centre were safe.

Muslims attending prayers said the bomb hoax was meant to punish the mosque for its condemnation of the bombings and its opposition to extremist teaching.

Mosque leaders said the hoax was the latest in a series of intimidation attempts since July 7. It has received regular hate mail and more than 15 abusive phone calls, many of which are believed to come from extremists within the Muslim community.